Data Scientist SME

Leidos Inc; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 131,000 - 237,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Data Scientist SME to translate complex geospatial data into actionable intelligence for the Chinook Program. You will lead advanced analytics, ML deployment, and cross‑functional collaboration with engineers, analysts, and program managers to meet mission objectives.

You will guide model development, leverage cloud platforms, and mentor junior staff while ensuring high quality documentation and alignment with national security requirements.

Qualifications

• US citizenship is required per contract.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical SME in data science and geospatial analytics for GEOINT missions.
• Lead the design and development of machine learning models for large geospatial datasets.
• Apply geospatial analytics, remote sensing, and data science to improve decision making.
• Provide strategic recommendations on new technologies to enhance workflows and outcomes.
• Mentor junior data scientists and analysts to build mission-relevant expertise.
• Collaborate with analysts, engineers, and stakeholders to align solutions with mission objectives.
• Conduct applied research on advanced data science techniques for real-world intelligence problems.
• Oversee deployment and operation of models to deliver actionable GEOINT insights.
• Maintain thorough documentation for reproducibility and training.

Skills

Data science

Geospatial analytics

Python

Machine learning

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's in Data Science or related field

Master's with 10–13 years experience

Tools

ArcGIS

GeoPandas

Rasterio

GDAL

Spark

AWS/Azure

Job description

Description

Turn complex data into mission advantage. Join Leidos on the Chinook Program supporting our Intelligence Community customer and play a critical role in transforming massive, complex datasets into actionable intelligence and mission insights. As a Data Scientist SME, you will bring advanced analytical expertise, innovative thinking, and technical leadership to a high performing Agile engineering team delivering next generation capabilities to our Intelligence Community customer.

This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud technology, and national security, where your expertise can directly influence how mission users understand data, identify patterns, and make critical decisions. You will serve as a technical authority while collaborating with software engineers, DevSecOps professionals, system architects, analysts, and mission stakeholders to solve challenging problems that don't have off-the-shelf answers.

If you are energized by applying advanced analytics to real-world mission challenges and want to see your work have a tangible impact, this is an opportunity to make a difference.

Leidos National Security Sector combines technology-enabled services and mission software capabilities in the areas of cyber, logistics, security operations, and decision analytics to support our defense and intel customers' mission to defend against evolving threats around the world. Our team's focus is to ensure our customers have the right tools, technologies, and tactics to keep pace with an ever-evolving security landscape and succeed in their pursuit to protect people and critical assets.

Location

• Gaithersburg, MD
• Alexandria, VA
• Chantilly, VA
• Aurora, CO
• St. Louis, MO

Clearance Level Required:

Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with the ability to successfully pass a Polygraph examination.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Serve as the technical SME in data science and geospatial analytics, providing high-level guidance on complex technical problems related to the GEOINT mission.
• Lead the design and development of sophisticated data science models and machine learning algorithms to analyze large, multi-source geospatial data sets (e.g., satellite imagery, sensor data, geospatial databases).
• Apply deep knowledge of GEOINT, remote sensing, and spatial analysis to develop and implement solutions that enhance data-driven decision-making capabilities.
• Provide strategic recommendations for leveraging new and emerging technologies, including machine learning, AI, and cloud platforms, to improve analytical workflows, efficiency, and mission outcomes.
• Mentor and train junior data scientists and analysts, ensuring the application of best practices in data science and the development of mission-relevant expertise.
• Work closely with GEOINT analysts, program managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to identify critical requirements, define technical approaches, and ensure that solutions align with mission objectives.
• Conduct applied research to explore innovative data science techniques and emerging trends (e.g., deep learning, reinforcement learning, advanced geospatial algorithms) that can be applied to solve real-world intelligence problems.
• Oversee the deployment and operationalization of data science models, ensuring they are scalable, reliable, and deliver actionable insights to GEOINT decision‑makers.
• Maintain high-quality documentation for models, methodologies, and analysis processes to support reproducibility, training, and knowledge transfer.

Basic Qualifications:

• US citizenship is required per contract.
• Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Geospatial Science or related field and 12-15 years of prior relevant experience or Master's with 10-13 years of prior relevant experience. May possess a Doctorate in technical domain.
• 10+ years of professional experience in data science.
• 5+ years of experience with GEOINT or geospatial data analysis.
• Proven expertise in developing and implementing machine learning and AI models, particularly in context of geospatial or remote sensing.
• Deep knowledge of geospatial analytics tools (e.g., GIS, ArcGIS), remote sensing techniques, and the application of data science in the IC.
• Expert proficiency in Python (or similar languages) and experience with data science libraries (Pandas, NumPy, SciPy, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, or equivalent tecchnologies).
• Strong experience with big data processing tools (e.g., Spark, PySpark, Kafka, Hadoop, AWS or Azure cloud platforms).
• Expertise in working with geospatial data formats (e.g., GeoTIFF, Shapefiles, WMS, WFS) and spatial libraries (e.g., GeoPandas, Rasterio, GDAL).
• Advance experience in developing and operationalizing AI/ML models and algorithms for geospatial data (e.g., object detection from satellite imagery, spatial clustering, predictive analytics).
• Strong background in data visualization and reporting tools (e.g., Tableau, PowerBI).
• Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to work directly with senior government officials, analysts, and technical teams.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills with a demonstrated ability to translate technical challenges into actionable insights.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced certifications in data science or machine learning.
• Familiarity with the customer's mission and specific geospatial intelligence challenges.
• Expertise in advanced deep learning techniques, particularly in computer vision and image analysis for geospatial applications.
• Experience with cloud-native applications and distributed computing in a geospatial context.
• Familiarity with satellite data analysis, and remoting sensing models.
• Published research or technical papers in geospatial intelligence, machine learning, or data science.

#Chinook

#NSBA

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Pay Range:

Pay Range $131,300.00 - $237,350.00

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.